Our Hen House: Vegan & Animal Rights Movement | Stories from the Frontlines of Animal Liberation

In this illuminating episode of Our Hen House, listeners dive into the vibrant ecosystem of grassroots animal advocacy with three powerhouse changemakers who are transforming the movement from the ground up. James Hattersley (We The Free), Carrie LeBlanc (Compassion Works International), and Steven Rouk (Connect For Animals) share their innovative approaches to building sustainable activism networks that create real-world impact. With refreshing honesty and practical wisdom, this conversation unpacks what truly works in mobilizing communities for animals—no corporate polish, just authentic voices with proven strategies and measurable results. Explore We The Free’s groundbreaking “Three Minute Movie Challenge” that’s inspiring millions to consider veganism through strategic online-to-offline conversion Discover how Compassion Works International has successfully shut down circuses and exotic animal performances through strategic grassroots campaigns Learn how Connect For Animals is solving the movement’s fragmentation by creating a centralized platform for activists to find their perfect advocacy fit Unpack the evolving role of AI in animal advocacy and how it’s revolutionizing outreach effectiveness Hear candid insights about avoiding movement infighting while maintaining passion and effectiveness Understand why data-driven activism is creating unprecedented wins for animals worldwide This panel discussion offers both newcomers and seasoned activists practical takeaways for finding their unique place in the movement, proving that grassroots advocacy remains the beating heart of animal protection efforts worldwide. ABOUT OUR GUESTS As the Founder and Executive Director of CompassionWorks International (CWI), Carrie LeBlanc leads groundbreaking animal advocacy campaigns that have successfully shut down multiple circus operations and exotic animal performances nationwide. Her strategic activism approach has transformed public opinion on animal exploitation issues including trophy hunting, rodeos, and both exotic and domestic animal abuse. Before establishing CWI, Carrie developed her animal rights expertise with leading organizations including Mercy For Animals, Compassion Over Killing, and FARM. With academic credentials including a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology and a master’s degree in art history from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Carrie brings a unique perspective to animal advocacy as a published art historian. She currently resides in Henderson, Nevada with her husband, rescue dog Bambi, and five rescued guinea pigs. Steven Rouk is the founder of Connect For Animals, an innovative platform bridging the gap between passionate individuals and effective animal advocacy opportunities. With over a decade of experience in the farmed animal protection movement, Steven specializes in data-driven activism strategies, community building initiatives, and grassroots mobilization techniques that empower everyday people to create meaningful change for animals. His work focuses on solving the fragmentation within animal advocacy by creating centralized resources that help supporters find their perfect fit within the movement. Connect For Animals has become a vital hub for connecting activists with campaigns, events, and actions from numerous nonprofits and local groups working to end factory farming. When not developing digital solutions for animal advocacy, Steven writes about philosophy and ethics, enjoys nonfiction literature, and stays active through running. James Hattersly, Founder and Executive Director of We The Free, has been at the forefront of vegan activism since 2017, developing innovative grassroots outreach strategies that are transforming animal advocacy worldwide. His diverse activism experience spans street outreach, protest marches, vigils, disruptive actions, targeted campaigns, undercover farm investigations, and direct animal rescue operations. Under his leadership, We The Free has expanded to 160+ teams across 40 countries, reaching millions monthly through their groundbreaking Three Minute Movie Challenge initiative. Before dedicating himself full-time to animal rights, James built extensive organizational expertise during a decade-long career in the social care sector, where he served as an Operations Manager coordinating services for individuals with learning disabilities and autism across multiple cities. When not developing We The Free’s strategic vision and fundraising initiatives, James volunteers at vegan animal sanctuaries and spends time with his rescued dogs. We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this week’s Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann navigate the delicate balance of activism while celebrating groundbreaking developments in food technology. From Mariann’s new camera angle (complete with curious pets) to troubling industry revelations, the hosts offer their characteristic blend of wit and wisdom on living compassionately in a complex world. Cultivated Salmon Milestone: Wild Type’s cultivated salmon becomes the first cell-based fish to reach restaurant menus in the US, starting in Oregon, with plans to expand nationwide Industry Exposés: Troubling revelations about the Animal Agriculture Alliance funneling intelligence on animal rights activists to the FBI DXE Activists Arrested: Five Direct Action Everywhere activists face charges after rescuing sick baby goats from a “certified humane” facility Vegan Diet Benefits: New study shows low-fat vegan diets can reduce menopausal hot flashes by 92%, regardless of whether the plant foods are processed Public Media Advocacy: Discussion about the importance of supporting public media funding amid unprecedented threats Sanctuary Spotlight: The Goat Conspiracy Sanctuary in Bloomington, Indiana, is seeking a new executive director RESOURCES Can mushrooms save the world? Why aren’t more people driving electric vehicles? Statement from AMPS on Wildtype Becoming the First Cultivated Fish Available for Sale in the World– Approved and available NOW in US restaurants Free From Harm on Facebook Animal rights group arrested for taking sick goats from California dairy amid abuse claims How the Farm Industry Spied on Animal Rights Activists and Pushed the FBI to Treat Them as Bioterrorists Animal Law Podcast #101: The Case of the FBI at the Meat Conference OHH #772: The Goat Conspiracy with Nicole Schonemann Want in on the Conspiracy? Executive Director position at The Goat Conspiracy Sanctuary We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

This week on Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives beak-first into the taxpayer-funded fever dream that is the animal agriculture industry’s response to bird flu. From senators begging for vaccine handouts to pork producers suddenly discovering biosecurity (better late than never!), it’s a masterclass in how industrial farming turns every crisis into a government funding opportunity. Meanwhile, the beef industry is busy grooming kindergartners with climate “science” that conveniently forgets to mention we could just, you know, eat fewer cows. All this while Oklahoma taxpayers fork over $250 million for a veterinary teaching hospital that’s totally about “feeding the world” and definitely not about propping up factory farming. This Week’s Anxieties: Bird Flu Bailout Brigade: Senators are urging the USDA to develop an emergency vaccine plan for cattle affected by HPAI (bird flu), because apparently the multi-billion dollar industry can’t develop their own contingency plans. Pork Panic: After years of bird flu circulating, the pork industry has finally noticed it might affect their bottom line and is suddenly embracing “One Health” principles and “stringent protocols” that will surely save us all. Vaccine Vanishing Act: HHS has pulled $766 million in funding for Moderna’s human bird flu vaccine development, with the new administration claiming mRNA technology “remains under-tested” despite widespread use. Beef’s Classroom Conquest: The beef industry is distributing free educational materials to schools that frame beef production as “environmentally sound” and “nutritionally essential” while carefully avoiding the suggestion that eating less meat might help the climate. Oklahoma’s Veterinary Venture: Oklahoma State University received a whopping $250 million in state funding for a new veterinary teaching hospital, framed as supporting “the food supply of Oklahoma” rather than subsidizing the animal agriculture industry. We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this eye-opening episode, Mariann Sullivan speaks with three pioneering advocates who are successfully preventing octopus factory farming across the United States. Amanda Fox (Executive Director of Animal Rights Initiative), Allie Taylor (President of Voters for Animal Rights), and Brenna Anderst (Senior Policy Advisor at The Humane League) share how their coalition has already secured bans in Washington and California, with legislation pending in seven more coastal states. The conversation reveals why octopuses – highly intelligent, venomous, escape-prone animals who require live prey – are particularly unsuited for aquaculture, and how preventing new forms of animal exploitation before they become entrenched is a powerful strategy for animal protection. This episode explores: How the Animal Policy Alliance is connecting local advocacy groups across the country to share resources and strategies for legislative success The ecological dangers of octopus farming, including massive consumption of wild-caught crustaceans and potential parasite spread Why preemptively banning harmful practices before they become economically established is more effective than trying to regulate existing industries The growing opposition from aquaculture interests as more states consider octopus farming bans How grassroots legislative campaigns can achieve meaningful victories for animals even when federal action seems unlikely ABOUT OUR GUESTS Amanda Fox is a dynamic leader serving as the Executive Director of the Animal Rights Initiative, where she pioneers legislative advocacy efforts and orchestrates impactful campaigns. With a keen eye for strategy and a passion for social change, Amanda navigates the complexities of lobbying while also coordinating engaging educational events, cementing her reputation as a dedicated advocate for animal liberation and social justice. Brenna Anderst is the Senior Policy Advisor at The Humane League, where she provides support to members of the Animal Policy Alliance through local, state, and federal policy research, model legislation drafting, and legislative and campaign strategy development. Prior to joining The Humane League, Brenna directed the legislative campaigns, lobbying efforts, and educational initiatives of an animal protection organization and farmed animal sanctuary in Washington state and was a founding member of the Animal Policy Alliance. In this role, Brenna led or was involved in the advancement of 20+ state and local-level laws protecting animals. Her extensive policy experience includes working with organizations and advocates locally and across the country on issues related to companion and farmed animal protections, animal cruelty enforcement reform, retail pet sales regulations, plant-based food procurement, and more. Allie Taylor is the president of Voters For Animal Rights (VFAR). She has led numerous legislative campaigns in New York City, including efforts to ban foie gras, end the sale of guinea pigs, prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses, crack down on backyard breeders, and eliminate the sale of fur. We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ The Animal Policy Alliance, established by The Humane League, is a powerful collective of local and state-level animal advocacy groups throughout the United States. We serve as a trusted resource, providing knowledge, strategies, connection opportunities, and grants to our member organizations. We lead with purpose, empowering alliance members to build toward our shared vision of a world without animal abuse. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this Hen Report, Jasmin recounts her adventures at a vegan-friendly baby shower (complete with vegan trivia!), while Mariann contemplates deep philosophical questions. From air-fried apples with caramel salt to the explosion of pistachio milk in mainstream grocery stores, the duo weaves serious animal rights discussions with their trademark humor and warmth, proving once again that changing the world for animals can include both righteous indignation and genuine joy. This episode explores: How factory farming contamination reaches far beyond animal suffering, with “fugitive dust” from industrial operations causing salmonella outbreaks in produce like peaches The shocking yet routine practice of mailing live chicks through postal services, resulting in the deaths of thousands of birds New York City’s groundbreaking plant-based hospital food initiative that has served over 1.2 million vegetarian meals as the default option The exciting explosion of plant-based milk alternatives, from pistachio to sunflower seed, showing how normalized dairy alternatives have become RESOURCES Last year’s salmonella outbreak linked to peaches may have been caused by “fugitive dust” 4,000 chicks died in the mail. They expose a darker truth about the meat industry. NYC Hospitals Are Nudging Patients Toward Plant-Based Meals. It’s Working. A New Generation of Non-Dairy Milks Is on the Rise “Free Bird”, an Illustrated Children’s Book with a Very Vegan Message Free Bird on Bookshop.org The Meatless Meats of the Future Baby Loves Vegan: An ABC of Plant Food Podcast Eat For The Planet: Ethan Brown’s Fight to Reclaim the Beyond Meat Story We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann serves up a buffet of agricultural catastrophes that have the industry shaking in their boots. From parasitic invasions to explosive grain silos to the pork industry’s bizarre meltdown over a health report that barely mentions them, it’s a masterclass in how industrial animal agriculture consistently creates its own problems—then demands taxpayers foot the bill to solve them. Pour yourself something strong and enjoy this tour of an industry on the verge of a collective nervous breakdown. This episode explores: The New World Screwworm outbreak creeping toward the US border, threatening cattle operations and prompting a taxpayer-funded “sterile fly” breeding program ADM’s shocking history of preventable grain explosions causing third-degree burns and life-changing injuries despite known safety protocols Why the “Make America Healthy Again” report has the pork industry frantically promoting “filling the protein gap” for infants How drone footage of farms has the industry demanding government protection from the terrifying prospect of transparency The recurring theme of industrial animal agriculture’s self-created disasters requiring public bailouts while animal suffering remains an afterthought   We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this episode of the Animal Law Podcast, Mariann Sullivan welcomes back Will Lowrey, legal counsel for Animal Partisan, alongside David Rosengard, managing attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund‘s Criminal Justice Program. They dive into an obscure but potentially game-changing legal tool: laws in certain states that allow private citizens to obtain search warrants when they have evidence of animal cruelty. While their recent attempt to use this procedure against Jenny O Turkey for its “ventilation shutdown plus” practices (which essentially slow-cooks birds to death during bird flu outbreaks) hit a roadblock in Minnesota, the team isn’t giving up. Factory farm cruelty meets legal loopholes: The guests explain how animal cruelty laws technically apply to farmed animals in all 50 states, despite industry claims to the contrary, and why they refuse to give up on using these laws despite frequent agricultural exemptions. What exactly is “ventilation shutdown plus”?: Prepare to be horrified as David Rosengard explains this USDA-approved depopulation method that seals barns, cuts off airflow, and pumps in heat, essentially cooking birds alive while they simultaneously suffocate. The government approval dodge: The court dismissed their case partly because federal agencies approved the practice, but as Will points out, “There’s no statute that Congress has passed that says you may overheat birds to 104 degrees for four hours and kill them.” California, here they come: Despite the setback, Animal Partisan is already preparing to test similar private warrant laws in California, where they’ve discovered another untapped legal tool that could help expose factory farm cruelty. The public doesn’t know: As David notes, when polled, people consistently say farm animals should be treated humanely and would pay more for better treatment – they just drastically underestimate what’s actually happening behind closed doors. ABOUT OUR GUESTS Will Lowrey is the Legal Counsel for Animal Partisan, a legal advocacy organization focused on challenging unlawful conduct at farms, slaughterhouses, and laboratories. Will previously spent several years as Legal Counsel for Animal Outlook, a national nonprofit farmed animal protectionorganization, where he divided his time between civil litigation and undercover investigations. Will has engaged in numerous lawsuits, as well as criminal and administrative enforcement actions against the government, industrial agriculture, and research laboratories, including cases involving federal slaughter laws, public records, false advertising, public nuisance, animal cruelty, and others. Will has taught Animal Law at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, Vermont Law and Graduate School, and the University of St. Thomas School of Law.  As Managing Attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund‘s Criminal Justice Program, David Rosengard champions justice for animal cruelty victims through groundbreaking legal strategies, including pioneering work to establish animals as legal crime victims and expand Courtroom Animal Advocate Programs. A Lewis & Clark Law School honors graduate who teaches animal law at his alma mater, David has contributed to significant publications on animal law while advancing constitutional arguments that recognize animal sentience in the legal system. We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. ********** You can listen to the Animal Law Podcast directly on our website (at the top of this page) or you can listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher. Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would consider making a donation or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Don’t forget to also listen to the award-winning,  weekly signature OHH podcast — now in its fifteenth glorious year!

In this thought-provoking episode, Jasmin and Mariann welcome back Our Hen House’s “wingman” Michael Dorf to discuss a recent Daily Show segment that mockingly covered efforts to improve shrimp welfare. The conversation delves into the challenges of advocating for less charismatic animals, the complexities of welfare reforms, and the surprising effectiveness of humor in introducing animal suffering to mainstream audiences. Later, Jasmin shares key insights from the recent Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit, while Vicki reviews Ben Goldfarb’s eye-opening book “Crossings,” revealing how road ecology impacts wildlife. This episode explores: How comedy and satire can inadvertently highlight important animal rights issues, even when attempting to mock them The evolution of the animal rights movement toward including previously overlooked species like insects and aquatic animals Jasmin’s “top 10” observations about the current state of animal advocacy from the AVA Summit The shocking environmental impact of roads on wildlife and potential solutions from the emerging field of road ecology The importance of grassroots activism in building a more effective and inclusive animal rights movement RESOURCES Charity for Shrimps? Ronny Chieng Explores the Limits of Effective Altruism | The Daily Show Effective Altruism As It Relates to Animal Rights: An Open Ended Approach to Advocacy Animal Agriculture Land Buyout 9 US dietary guidelines should emphasize beans and lentils as protein, new proposal says MEDIA RELEASE: Michigan Cancels Goose Gassing After Receiving Pressure From Advocates New Bill Would Reveal How Many Animals Are Used in Government-Funded Experiments! The massive stakes of the Trump administration’s plans to end animal testing Recent Graduates Were Told They Were Coming to the U.S. for Cultural Exchange. They Ended Up Trapped in a Factory Farm. Crossings by Ben Goldfarb on Bookshop.org Episode 468: Ben Goldfarb We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or X (formerly Twitter). The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan examines current developments in animal agriculture and political food policies so you don’t have to. From RFK Jr.’s contradictory stances on vaccines and ultra-processed foods to industry insiders acknowledging that cultivated protein may replace conventional meat production in the future, this episode dives into the contradictions and potential changes within the food system.  This episode explores: How industry insiders are predicting a future shift away from conventional animal agriculture toward cultivated protein technologies Emerging debates around the classification of plant-based alternatives as “ultra-processed” Agricultural communication strategies being developed by industry Proposed budget changes that would redirect $290 billion from food assistance programs to commodity support and crop insurance   We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Sebastian Joy, founder of Kickstarting for Good, shares his innovative approach to transforming our global food system. Sebastian, who went from leading a tiny vegetarian society to helping build a worldwide movement at ProVeg International, reveals how mentorship has helped launch initiatives raising over $500 million for plant-based innovation. With candid stories about developing B12-fortified toothpaste (when everyone said it was impossible!) and creating the rapidly expanding AVA Summit, Sebastian offers a masterclass in strategic thinking for animal advocates. This episode explores: The three essential pillars for any successful nonprofit initiative How Sebastian’s incubator is helping launch the next generation of vegan advocacy organizations across six continents Why we need both alternative protein companies AND nonprofits to create lasting change in our food system Why we should be working with governments to help farmers transition away from animal agriculture How strategic networking and mentorship can multiply your impact for animals ABOUT OUR GUEST Sebastian Joy is a globally respected changemaker and serial social entrepreneur. He is the founder of Kickstarting For Good, a groundbreaking incubator for nonprofits, which helps impact entrepreneurs working to fix our broken food system. Having had a lifelong passion for creating high-impact initiatives, Sebastian spent two decades at the forefront of the food-change movement as the founding president of ProVeg International, one of the world’s leading food awareness organisations. Under his leadership, ProVeg expanded into more than a dozen countries with over 200 employees, worked with governments and corporations to shift food systems, and launched countless initiatives that have influenced millions of meals and helped shape global food policy. Sebastian is known for both his strategic vision and for building cross-sector bridges – from public institutions and corporations, to grassroots communities and fellow NGOs. He was a lecturer in social entrepreneurship at the Berlin School of Economics and Law, and is a regular speaker at international conferences on sustainability, food innovation, and systems change. Supported by a hand-picked team of experts from the movement, Sebastian is now channeling his decades of experience and relentless energy into mentoring and launching the next wave of mission-driven charity entrepreneurs. He currently lives in Berlin, Germany, with his wife Melanie Joy, a celebrated psychologist, author, and founder of Beyond Carnism. We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.